A beheaded body was found on the Devi Sidua river embankment near Korkora under Sadar police limits on Thursday morning, sending shockwaves across the region. The body has been identified to be of a betel shop owner, Basanta Patra alias Bula (38) of Dhananagarpada about 7 km from Korkora.
Police said the torso of Patra was found lying on the embankment road while the head had rolled down the slopes. Horrified locals informed the police immediately which recovered the body and the head and sent it for post-mortem.
According to reports, Bula, who used to run a betel shop at Dhananagarpada Satsang Mandir Bazaar near Pratap Nagari, had left his house at around 1.30 pm on Wednesday informing his family members that he was going to visit his brother-in-law at 42 Mouza. He came back in the evening only to leave again at around 8 pm. This time he told the family that he was going to Cuttack with a relative and would be back on Thursday morning.
However, he did not return and his body was found on the river embankment. The crime is believed to have been committed by more than two persons even as police have pressed scientific and forensic teams along with sniffer dogs to aid the investigation. The motive for the murder is also yet to be ascertained though it appears to be of intense enmity. Police are exploring all angles from personal and family disputes to business dealing or any other dangerous connections of Bula.